Sandy Baltimore's stunning strike in first-half stoppage time proved decisive in a hard-fought contest. The Blues had to withstand considerable pressure after the break, but defended resolutely before City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita was sent off for bringing down Alyssa Thompson outside her penalty area.

We remained a threat on the counter and came close to adding a second, but Baltimore's goal was enough to secure three precious points.

The result maintains our unbeaten start to the season in all competitions and gives us a significant advantage in the race for the WSL title.

Opening chances

The early stages at Stamford Bridge were played at a high tempo, with chances at both ends in an entertaining start to the contest.

Manchester City created the first opportunity when Khadija Shaw broke down the left and cut the ball back for Aoba Fujino, whose effort went wide of Hannah Hampton's goal. We responded immediately, with Melvine Malard holding off the City defence before laying the ball into the path of Alyssa Thompson, but the American international fired high and wide.

City continued to threaten, but Katie McCabe produced an excellent interception in the eighth minute to prevent Fujino from having another sight of goal.

We came close to taking the lead two minutes later. Malard beat Iman Beney down the left and sent in a cross, which took a slight deflection, forcing Ayaka Yamashita into an excellent save.

There was an early change for the Blues in the 12th minute, as Veerle Buurman replaced Kadeisha Buchanan in defence.

Lexi Potter was shown the first yellow card of the afternoon three minutes later after catching Sam Coffey, before Ellie Carpenter used her pace to get away from the City defence on the right. The Australian drove towards goal but dragged her shot wide of the far post.

Blues turn up the pressure

Our attacking threat continued to grow. McCabe played a superb pass inside the full-back to release Thompson down the left in the 21st minute, and her cross found its way to Carpenter at the far post after Malard had been unable to make contact. Carpenter struck first time, but Rebecca Knaak cleared the ball from inside the six-yard box with Malard waiting to pounce.

Baltimore then sent a dangerous cross into the area, which Malard narrowly failed to reach, as City struggled to deal with our attacking play. We were enjoying more possession and creating the better opportunities, although a breakthrough remained elusive.

City had a rare effort in the 26th minute when Sydney Wamser tried her luck from around 25 yards, but her shot sailed wide of Hampton's goal.

There was an injury concern for us when Malard went down in the 34th minute and, unable to continue, was replaced by Aggie Beever-Jones.

The Blues continued to press City and eventually had the final say before the interval.

Baltimore breaks the deadlock

Our pressure was finally rewarded in the fourth minute of added time, as Baltimore produced a stunning finish to put us ahead.

City had been caught trying to play out from the back, and we took full advantage by pressing high and winning possession in their half. Buurman won an aerial challenge near halfway before Carpenter held off the City defence and carried the ball forward down the right.

City briefly regained possession, but Hasegawa was unable to escape the pressure from Carpenter and Kaptein, who won the ball back. Potter laid it off to Kaptein, who found Carpenter on the right. The full-back then picked out Baltimore inside the penalty area.

The French international had time to turn and set herself before unleashing a thunderous strike into the top corner, giving Yamashita no chance and sending Stamford Bridge into delirium.

It was a wonderful goal and a deserved reward for our growing dominance. We had looked the more threatening side as the half progressed, shading possession and creating the better chances, and Baltimore's late strike gave us the advantage our first-half performance merited.

It was to be Baltimore’s final impact on the game with the attacker replaced by Maika Hamano at the break.

City try to fight back

City immediately tried to find a way back into the contest after the break, but their first effort on target did not come until the 57th minute when Fujino collected a pass from Shaw. Her tame shot was straight at Hampton, who made a comfortable save.

After soaking up the pressure, we continued to threaten at the other end, with McCabe playing a wonderful pass to release Thompson. The forward embarked on a winding run before sending a cross into the area, which was intercepted by the City defence.

Our fifth corner followed on the hour mark. McCabe's delivery was cleared, but Bronze returned the ball into the box and Kaptein reacted quickest to the loose ball. Under pressure from Yamashita and Shaw, however, her header went just over the crossbar.

The visitors then missed a golden opportunity to equalise. Shaw beat Bronze to the ball before lifting the ball over Hampton, but Hemp somehow failed to make contact at the far post, despite the goal seemingly at her mercy. Carpenter's pressure helped put the England international off, and we survived a major scare.

City substitute Miedema soon made her presence felt, playing in Shaw, who cut inside Carpenter before seeing her effort blocked brilliantly by the excellent Buurman.

Yamashita sees red

We had a huge opportunity to double our advantage in the 71st minute. Thompson did well to keep the ball alive down the left before sending a cross towards the far post, where Carpenter was completely unmarked. However, the Australian could not make clean contact and fired off target with the goal gaping.

City kept on pressing with Fujino skipping past McCabe, but Bronze stepped across to block her effort, before our captain produced another vital intervention to deny Shaw as she prepared to shoot.

A decisive moment came in the 75th minute when City goalkeeper Yamashita was sent off. The Japanese international rushed out of her penalty area to meet a ball over the top, but the electric Thompson got there first and knocked it past the onrushing keeper, who brought down our forward. The referee had little choice but to show a straight red card, leaving City with ten players for the closing stages.

And we came within inches of making our numerical advantage count immediately; Beever-Jones struck the crossbar from the resulting free-kick, a wonderful effort from distance that was so close to giving us a more comfortable final 15 minutes of action.

Holding on for a huge victory

Despite being down to ten players, City continued to push forward in search of an equaliser, with Bronze continuing to lead our defensive efforts, making another important intervention to prevent Shaw from getting a shot away in the 83rd minute.

We remained dangerous on the counter, with Beever-Jones firing wide after a fine run down the left six minutes from time.

City had one final opportunity when Beney was played in by Beth Mead in the first minute of added time, but the defender fired over under pressure from the hard-working Thompson.

A frenetic, high-quality encounter ended with the Blues claiming all three points to move above City and take the top spot in the WSL.

What it means...

The victory takes us to the top of the Women's Super League, one point ahead of Manchester City, who had been unbeaten in the league and across all competitions before today's meeting.

It also extends our own unbeaten start to the season and delivers a significant result against the reigning champions at Stamford Bridge.

What comes next...

We host Paris Saint-Germain at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Wednesday evening (8pm KO) in matchday five of the UEFA Women's Champions League. You can buy your tickets here!

The teams

Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Bronze (c), Buchanan (Buurman 12), McCabe, Walsh, Kaptein, Potter (Cuthbert 87), Thompson, Baltimore (Hamano 45), Malard (Beever-Jones 35)
Unused subs: Peng, Bjorn, Las, Nsuken, Brown
Scorers: Baltimore 45+4
Booked: Potter 14

Manchester City: Yamashita, Beney, Rose, Knaak (c), Wamser (Mead 87), Coffey (Blindkilde Brown 63), Hasegawa, Fowler (Miedema 63), Fujino (Cumings 78), Hemp, Shaw
Unused subs: Shimizu, Clinton, Casparij, Lohmann, Prior
Booked: Shaw 47, Wamser 53
Sent Off: Ayaka Yamashita 75 

Referee: Phoebe Cross